both the chicken and the egg are served raw<\/strong>?<\/p>\nFor many Westerners, the idea of eating raw (or rare) chicken and eggs sounds like a recipe for some form of food poisoning. But in Izumi, the conditions under which the chickens and eggs are cared for and the freshness of the products coming straight from local farms means nobody ever gets sick from tainted food, even served raw. So now the question is, how does it taste?<\/p>\n
Where to eat it in Izumi?<\/h3>\n
Only 3 restaurants in town specialize in Oyako Steak Gohan. I myself was able to taste the specialty at Uomatsu, a very nice restaurant near the train station.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At Uomatsu, the dining rooms are all separated for privacy. The floor is covered with tatami mats, so you can take off your shoes and relax on the small cushions placed around a table. Then we we were served Oyako Steak Gohan: different slices of raw chicken to grill on a small barbecue table<\/strong>, served with dipping sauces,\u00a0 rice, an egg to eat with the rice, daikon ( white radish), and miso soup … a real feast! The meal is accompanied by green tea, and the dessert is served at the same time: a small flan with egg and a cup of coffee. Everything was very good and very fresh.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How to Eat it?<\/h2>\nFirst, the Egg with Rice<\/h3>\n
There are two ways to prepare the egg, raw or cooked, though it is always eaten over rice with daikon. Izumi’s eggs are huge and have two yolks! This is a unique characteristic of eggs produced in Izumi. Though some eggs are for direct consumption, the majority end up being used as an ingredient in mayonnaise. Now, you choose how to prepare your egg.<\/p>\n
\n- In the traditional method, break the egg in a small bowl, then pour soy sauce over it. After mixing thoroughly with the chopsticks, the whole bowl is poured over rice.<\/li>\n
- For the less adventurous (including me!), just break the egg in the small pan table barbecue. After cooking, put the egg over rice, season with a little soy sauce and eat it all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Chicken<\/h3>\n
Chicken meat is arranged in a dish, there are two types: white pieces, and slightly fatter pieces. Both are very good and very tender.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We take each piece individually and place it on the pan over the grill. Locals will eat Oyako Steak slightly seared, almost raw. But if you are squeamish about eating raw chicken, feel free to cook it longer! Once the meat is cooked to your liking, dip it in a sauce (miso or lemon sauce) or in salt with spices. I advise you to cook the fattier pieces first. The fat, once melted, will keep the next slices from sticking to the pan.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Useful Information<\/h2>\nHow to Get to Izumi, Kagoshima Prefecture<\/h3>\n
Izumi is served by the Shinkansen Kyushu Line (Hakata to Kagoshima Chuo), Izumi Station, which makes it easily accessible. A JR Rail Pass is also valid.<\/p>\n